Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
North Carolina Property Taxes
The average North Carolina homeowner pays $1,896 a year at an effective rate of 0.66%, 5% below the U.S. average. Compare 100 counties below.
- $1,896
- Avg median tax
- 0.66%
- Effective rate
- #36 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 100
- Counties
The verdict
The average North Carolina homeowner pays $1,896 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.66%, the #36 highest burden of 51 U.S. states.
- $1,896
- Average median tax, 2024
- 0.66%
- Statewide effective rate
- #36 of 51
- U.S. states by tax burden
- 100
- counties measured
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($288,900). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
The average median property tax in North Carolina is $1,896/year, which is 5% below the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 0.66% on a median home value of $288,900. Taxes range from $778 in Bertie County to $4,162 in Orange County.
What This Data Tells Us About North Carolina
The statewide average property tax in North Carolina is $1,896 per year, 5% below the national average of $1,993, based on Census ACS state-level estimates. The statewide effective rate of 0.66% on a median home value of $288,900 reflects how North Carolina's assessment rules and local millage combine at the household level; the 100 counties below show how that varies locally.
Within North Carolina, median annual tax ranges from $778 in Bertie County (effective rate 0.79%) to $4,162 in Orange County (effective rate 0.91%). Median home values in North Carolina ($288,900) compared with $227,791 nationally help explain why the same effective rate produces different dollar bills in different states. Within-state variation often tracks local school levies, county bonds, and municipal overlays rather than a single statewide rate.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau, individual bills can differ based on assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Always confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making decisions that rely on these numbers.
State Average vs National Average
How North Carolina compares
Average effective property tax rate vs the national average, ACS 2024.
North Carolina has a higher effective property tax rate than 30% of U.S. states, ranking #36 of 51 for property tax burden.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
Tax Affordability Score
Based on the average effective tax rate of 0.66% compared to the national average of 0.92%. North Carolina has below-average property tax rates, making it a more affordable state for homeowners.
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale derived mechanically from the ratio of this state's average effective rate to the national average effective rate (0.92%) - a ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, a ratio at or above 2.0× scores 1, with a linear scale between. It is a factual comparison of Census figures only, not a recommendation, quality rating, or endorsement of North Carolina or any other state.
All Counties in North Carolina (100)
| County (by tax bill) | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | $4,162 | 0.91% | $459,500 |
| Wake County | $3,260 | 0.71% | $461,300 |
| Durham County | $3,092 | 0.79% | $389,400 |
| Mecklenburg County | $2,890 | 0.71% | $406,800 |
| Chatham County | $2,847 | 0.64% | $446,200 |
| Cabarrus County | $2,586 | 0.73% | $354,800 |
| Union County | $2,396 | 0.57% | $417,300 |
| Dare County | $2,391 | 0.52% | $460,400 |
| Buncombe County | $2,222 | 0.57% | $391,800 |
| Guilford County | $2,174 | 0.84% | $259,900 |
| New Hanover County | $2,105 | 0.54% | $387,800 |
| Forsyth County | $1,984 | 0.79% | $250,400 |
| Gaston County | $1,982 | 0.75% | $266,000 |
| Camden County | $1,952 | 0.58% | $337,100 |
| Iredell County | $1,952 | 0.61% | $321,400 |
| Johnston County | $1,908 | 0.62% | $305,600 |
| Brunswick County | $1,890 | 0.54% | $349,800 |
| Pender County | $1,883 | 0.63% | $299,000 |
| Lincoln County | $1,856 | 0.58% | $321,000 |
| Cumberland County | $1,850 | 0.93% | $199,200 |
| Moore County | $1,849 | 0.53% | $351,400 |
| Franklin County | $1,834 | 0.65% | $284,300 |
| Henderson County | $1,810 | 0.52% | $351,400 |
| Lee County | $1,785 | 0.74% | $240,200 |
| Currituck County | $1,760 | 0.46% | $378,800 |
| Pitt County | $1,734 | 0.83% | $208,900 |
| Polk County | $1,697 | 0.54% | $315,000 |
| Harnett County | $1,689 | 0.69% | $246,200 |
| Chowan County | $1,677 | 0.71% | $235,800 |
| Transylvania County | $1,674 | 0.45% | $373,600 |
| Granville County | $1,664 | 0.67% | $247,700 |
| Davie County | $1,595 | 0.63% | $253,900 |
| Haywood County | $1,583 | 0.57% | $279,200 |
| Pasquotank County | $1,573 | 0.67% | $234,600 |
| Rowan County | $1,554 | 0.65% | $238,400 |
| Onslow County | $1,502 | 0.64% | $236,400 |
| Alamance County | $1,494 | 0.62% | $241,500 |
| Wilson County | $1,471 | 0.79% | $186,000 |
| Hoke County | $1,465 | 0.67% | $219,300 |
| Craven County | $1,450 | 0.63% | $231,600 |
| Carteret County | $1,423 | 0.43% | $333,300 |
| Catawba County | $1,407 | 0.58% | $241,600 |
| Watauga County | $1,386 | 0.39% | $358,900 |
| Stanly County | $1,385 | 0.57% | $242,400 |
| Perquimans County | $1,375 | 0.59% | $231,700 |
| Madison County | $1,362 | 0.48% | $284,600 |
| Nash County | $1,362 | 0.71% | $191,000 |
| Tyrrell County | $1,331 | 0.81% | $164,500 |
| Person County | $1,328 | 0.62% | $213,900 |
| Randolph County | $1,324 | 0.67% | $197,100 |
| Davidson County | $1,320 | 0.60% | $219,100 |
| Edgecombe County | $1,306 | 1.04% | $125,100 |
| Beaufort County | $1,300 | 0.67% | $192,700 |
| Gates County | $1,296 | 0.76% | $170,800 |
| Cleveland County | $1,286 | 0.64% | $200,000 |
| Alexander County | $1,269 | 0.60% | $211,800 |
| Rockingham County | $1,258 | 0.75% | $168,600 |
| Vance County | $1,256 | 0.78% | $161,500 |
| Burke County | $1,253 | 0.68% | $185,400 |
| Washington County | $1,252 | 0.99% | $125,900 |
| Wayne County | $1,249 | 0.70% | $178,700 |
| Northampton County | $1,239 | 1.08% | $114,500 |
| Bladen County | $1,227 | 0.91% | $135,100 |
| Yadkin County | $1,220 | 0.67% | $181,200 |
| Pamlico County | $1,218 | 0.56% | $216,800 |
| Alleghany County | $1,217 | 0.57% | $214,800 |
| Halifax County | $1,216 | 1.15% | $106,200 |
| Ashe County | $1,190 | 0.49% | $243,100 |
| Clay County | $1,186 | 0.43% | $278,400 |
| Stokes County | $1,179 | 0.60% | $196,700 |
| Rutherford County | $1,178 | 0.58% | $201,800 |
| Hertford County | $1,168 | 0.98% | $119,200 |
| Martin County | $1,168 | 1.06% | $109,700 |
| Yancey County | $1,157 | 0.48% | $243,100 |
| Caldwell County | $1,150 | 0.60% | $192,200 |
| Anson County | $1,141 | 0.77% | $148,600 |
| Mitchell County | $1,141 | 0.52% | $220,100 |
| Caswell County | $1,140 | 0.69% | $164,500 |
| Richmond County | $1,138 | 0.89% | $127,800 |
| Sampson County | $1,130 | 0.75% | $150,700 |
| Columbus County | $1,120 | 0.77% | $146,000 |
| Warren County | $1,093 | 0.71% | $154,200 |
| Macon County | $1,074 | 0.43% | $251,900 |
| Surry County | $1,071 | 0.60% | $177,600 |
| Scotland County | $1,068 | 0.93% | $114,900 |
| Cherokee County | $1,064 | 0.46% | $232,300 |
| Greene County | $1,041 | 0.89% | $117,400 |
| Montgomery County | $1,037 | 0.64% | $161,700 |
| Lenoir County | $1,015 | 0.84% | $120,500 |
| Avery County | $1,010 | 0.38% | $265,800 |
| Wilkes County | $1,002 | 0.59% | $168,800 |
| Graham County | $979 | 0.57% | $170,600 |
| Jackson County | $976 | 0.34% | $284,700 |
| Hyde County | $975 | 0.79% | $124,000 |
| Jones County | $964 | 0.74% | $130,300 |
| Duplin County | $950 | 0.69% | $137,400 |
| McDowell County | $911 | 0.53% | $171,100 |
| Swain County | $859 | 0.41% | $207,000 |
| Robeson County | $820 | 0.87% | $94,500 |
| Bertie County | $778 | 0.79% | $98,500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does North Carolina compare to the national average? ▼
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What is the median home value in North Carolina? ▼
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PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for North Carolina. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-09.